Transformers

1 9 8 4 – 1 9 8 7  (USA/Japan)
98 x 30 minute episodes

“Robots in disguise!”

During the great Cybertronian War, the Autobots (giant robots with super strength and abilities that allow them to change their forms) and Decepticons (deadly robots who seek control of the universe) crash-landed on Earth.

Both species are deactivated and go unnoticed for millions of years until geological activity eventually revives the warring factions.

The Decepticons want to strip the Earth of its vast energy resources, while the Autobots seek to protect the inhabitants of Earth from that fate. And so an endless battle begins.

The Cartoon Network began airing a new Transformers series in 2002, titled Transformers: Armada. The war between the Autobots and the Decepticons was still raging, but a new race entered the picture – the Mini-Cons (miniature Transformers that could attach to their larger counterparts and enhance their abilities).

However, Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons, captured some of the Mini-Cons and planned to use them to help him rule the universe. Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, had set out on a mission to find and free the Mini-Cons.

Adding fuel to the fire was Unicorn, the Transformer God of Chaos, who was after the Mini-Cons – as they were his cells and he needed to absorb them as ruler of the universe. It was explained that the Mini-Cons travelled in a ship called Armada and were a lost faction of the Transformers who had returned to claim their rightful place.

And that’s where television stopped, and the evil merchandising machine took over (evident by the sheer number of characters (see below).

The good guys were led by one Optimus Prime. Other characters in the series included;

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